Sometimes, the storm isn’t for us...
In my scripture reading this morning, I read about Paul’s shipwreck
on Malta and the events leading up to it. A particular segment popped
out at me as if it were a three-dimensional object against a
two-dimensional setting. I began reading in Acts 27Suddenly I saw Paul in a new light (no, I’m not on my own road to Damascus). Paul was terrified. His faith was in a weakened condition. Why? Because in the verse just before this Paul says, “until at last all hope was gone.” Even Paul despaired of his life. But wait, wasn’t he hoping for heaven? Wouldn’t that have been a good thing?
You see, I’m coming to realize something about the apostle Paul as I’ve been studying him recently. Paul had a “dream” to go to Rome. He’d been to some mighty cool places on his missionary journeys, but he really wanted to go to Rome, the center of the Roman empire. I don’t think this was just spiritual desire, but also a physical, emotional one. I think that’s why even our dear apostle Paul had lost hope.
But what does God do for his faithful servant Paul? Does God rebuke him? No, instead, God sends a messenger to Paul to say, “Look, Paul, I know you have your heart set on Rome, and you will get there, but I have this Divine Delay right now. Don’t be afraid, BUT TAKE COURAGE, you will get to Rome.” WOW!!
Paul has been facing days of crashing, crushing waves—waves that certainly will destroy the vessel. In their despair of life, the crew cast all cargo and even the instruments overboard. All hope was lost. BUT GOD, (that's my favorite phrase in the Bible) says to Paul in the midst of this, “TAKE COURAGE.”
Interesting words, aren’t they? The New American Standard Bible says, “keep up your courage.” The greek word Euthumeo is translated in the following ways: to put in good spirits, gladden, make cheerful, to be of good spirits, to be cheerful, to be joyful, be of good cheer, of good courage. All of these things involve an act of the will to “be” something. It implies an embracing of sorts—take, receive, hold onto courage. Boy, when your ship is about to go down, you hang onto anything solid you can get your hands on. So God gives His dear servant a life raft. He gives him courage and tells Paul to hang on to it for dear life. WOW!
Then, the most remarkable thing about this passage is what Paul does next. He shares this wonderful news with everyone on the ship. He doesn't hold onto it and hog it, he shares it!! Paul was so encouraged by this angel’s visit that he wanted others to have that same confidence, and he shares this wonderful news with an unbelieving crowd.
The end of the story is that the gale force winds did not stop, they pounded and pushed the ship right up to the rocks on the Isle of Malta, yet just as Paul said, not a life was lost. Paul began to understand that this trip wasn’t just about him, but about the other men on board with whom God was sharing the truth. I wonder how many of those shipmates we’ll see in glory someday because Paul took courage in the shipwreck.
Sometimes, the storm isn’t for us, it’s for the ones watching. Certainly, God had things for Paul to learn, too, but His greater good in this instance, I think, was demonstrating His existence to the men who were traveling with Paul. Perhaps one of them had asked Paul for “proof” of God’s existence. I think they probably got it!
So, take courage! You'll notice that this phrase occurs twice in this passage, along with “Do not be afraid.” Repetition implies importance. Again, with the apostle Paul I say to you, “TAKE COURAGE!”